*Pots, Pans, & Pretty Aprons

by Tiffany
from Virtuous Daughters, August 2003~Volume 3, Number 5

Baking, cooking, recipes, and pretty aprons did not seem to catch my interest much until about six or seven months ago. :) Before, I felt that “making food” was dull and unrewarding. Due to my dear mother’s encouragement and enthusiasm, however, I have started to develop a skill which I am sure will benefit me the rest of my life. Thanks, Mommy! I’d also like to thank my grandmother, who also enjoys cooking, for teaching me how to make homemade pizza, kolaches, and cinnamon rolls. They are so yummy! :) Thanks, Nanny! And special thanks to my friend Melissa, who had the idea of exchanging recipes. I am doing that with a few friends now and it’s been a real motivation. Thanks, Melissa!
 
Furthermore, I’d like to share with you a few tips I have learned from mishaps and experiences :); I am definitely still learning—I’ve just become a little more courageous at trying new recipes! :)

• Set out all of the ingredients you’ll use before you start to cook. It is not very exciting to be trying to find ingredients that are buried somewhere, especially when limited on time. Also, you’ll know beforehand if one of the vital ingredients is not available to you :), and won’t have a bowl of good-for-nothing sitting on the counter waiting for milk!
• Half the batch on a new recipe unless it just makes a little. One time I made granola and failed to half the recipe. We all ended up thinking it was quite—how shall we say—“unappealing” to our tastes! :)
• I know you know this one—but it is worth hearing again—clean up any mess you make. I used to say, “When we’re done cooking, we don’t want it to be visible to anyone that we ever did anything.” (Of course this excludes the product of your work! :)) Also, try cleaning up the kitchen before you start working—it pays to work in a clean kitchen!
• Wear an apron—this is like a must! :) Not only can you wipe your hands on an apron, but if the flour “poofs” everywhere, or if you drop an egg, you are less likely to have to change. Craft stores sell plain aprons, ready to be decorated, and those are fun to do.
• Don’t try to carry ten items with one hand at one time. :) (Or even with two hands!) Once I was trying to carry several items, along with a small dish of three eggs. As I finally reached the fridge, everything fell. Nothing was breakable except the eggs, and my, that was a mess! :)
• Exchange recipes with friends. This is quite enjoyable, because you are using a friend’s recipe! Trading recipes has been a real motivation to me.
• Start your own recipe collection. For Christmas, a friend made me a recipe box with some recipe cards in it. When I try a recipe I like, I put it in my box. That has been fun too!
• Although I have not done this yet :), I have heard of it, and it is one of my goals for this summer if it doesn’t fly away too quickly. :) Try making one meal a week. For example, you may be responsible for the Tuesday night dinner, or the Monday morning breakfast. This way, you are not caught off guard :), and you can practice all the planning, preparing, and work that goes into a meal. I have made several meals myself, and although it can be overwhelming at first, the next meal is always easier! :)

  
 “Making food” is really an enjoyment, but it’s also a necessity as a young lady. Right now we are just helping our mothers and learning from them, but it won’t be long and we’ll be making all of the meals ourselves. Remember what the Bible says in Proverbs 31:15, She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”   Happy Cooking! :)